New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-06
MIR. dBBEY'S PRODIGY.

1t has already been announced that tho child pianist
Josef Hoffman,. will be brought to this country In
October for five months tour under the management
Of Mr. Abbey. The boy has been the most pronounced
sensation In the London just closed, and tho
most careful weighing OF the evidence seems to justify
the belief that In his the world Is dealing with
musical genius, not merely with unusually pre-
cocious child. The experience OF many years has made
musicians and critics suspicious of musical prodgios
There been few exceptions to the rulo that pre-
ernaturay talented childron especially II the bent OF
their gifts toward Interpreting rather than creating
never fulfil In maturity the promise of their childhood
Even In tho of Mozart this prejudice warped tho
Judgment Of many of his hearers, is evidenced by
the fact that 1udlcous writer as Dr. Burney gave
place state of Music to this extract
from q letter about Mozart when that Hcayon-seDt
genius already sixteen years old III L may
Judge of the which head of his composition In
the orcestra no II further instance Of early fruit
being more extraordinary than excellent In many
the prcudi,e against childish pro1iges on the
part OF musicians and critics at least, out OF tho
abuse which the fresh young talents are subjected
by parents and managers, which I'm the overwhelming
majority of aoes result, In the utter rum OF the gs
and sometimes also of their possossor Tne last sur
piiSing prodigy that came to these shores, MauiIce
Dengremont was sad case In point. IL Is gratiiyihg
therefore. learn that josef HOHnanns father has
agreed with Me- Abbey TO take him back to lis home
and studies the expiration OF his American Jour
The iad Is now in his eleventh year, having 6ceh
born on June 10 n ts aer Is s S so
In Poland HIS instruction Nas all derived from his
father Last year no playc IN Berlin anu Ih1s'
a founding the musicians OF the German capital by I'M
promising with Moritz Moszkowsh theme sug-
gested by tho latter. Concerning C. Il feat T.. T..
TaubcIt wrote in Die Post: the lad also impro-
vsed a theme supplied the moment by MOritZ
Moszkowsd. Josef Iiofmann carried the idea.
handngi ba again to his part and the music was
continued ia this autphonal manner until both play
finished simultaneously" In :" The 10 s~n COu
rier" DIT Eichbrg said THAT this Lad OF nine years
has already composed hfty.sl such piece. IL matter
by means trivial at any rate II appears to have
has bad effect upor hi musical feeling. Bn
II any ncl cd TO the belief that exanoous aid had
afforded the fms Ing touches To these compositions,
he must have been at undeccivod hearing the
imprOmptu fantasia which the lad played a a duet
with Herr Modtz MoszkOwsh who nj the request OF
the father made this experiment with the boy There
could be no deception practised here and the result
Of tho trial simply astounding" In London tho
lad PLAYED a beethoven concerto at concert Of the
Philharmonic, and at various concerts performed q
long list OF pieces 10 tho delight and amazomen of HIS
auditors. lie viii surely DO heartily welcome In
America apd listened TO with moro than ordinary In